Shoesmith claims unfair dismissal

The former children's services chief who lost her job over the Baby P tragedy has lodged an employment tribunal claim against her former employer.

Sharon Shoesmith, 56, was dismissed without compensation from her senior position at Haringey Council in north London in December after a damning report into her department's failings.

She lodged a claim against the local authority with the Watford employment tribunal on Friday, said a Tribunals Service spokeswoman.

A spokesman for Haringey Council said: "We will be contesting this vigorously."

Children's Secretary Ed Balls sent inspectors into the local authority after the trial of those responsible for 17-month-old Baby P's death.

The inspectors identified a string of "serious concerns" about Haringey's child protection services, which they described as "inadequate".

Mr Balls removed Ms Shoesmith from her post on December 1 but she remained suspended on full pay until Haringey councillors decided to sack her a week later. Ms Shoesmith lost an internal appeal against her dismissal in January.

Employment law experts say she could be in line for a payout of up to £173,000 if she can prove that the council was wrong to sack her.

Baby P, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died in a blood-splattered cot in August 2007.

He had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger despite being on the child protection register and receiving 60 contacts with the authorities over eight months.